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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Manipulation complexity in primates coevolved with brain size and terrestriality.

Sandra A Heldstab¹, Zaida K Kosonen¹, Sonja E Koski²

¹Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.

Scientific Reports

|April 15, 2016

Summary

Complex manipulation and large brains evolved together in primates, especially those living on the ground. This suggests a feedback loop driving cognitive evolution in our lineage.

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Area of Science:

Primate evolution
Comparative psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Humans possess unique foraging complexity and large brains.
Understanding the evolutionary drivers of these traits is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between manipulation complexity, brain size, cognition, terrestriality, and diet in primates.
To explore the evolutionary feedback loop between manipulation and cognition.

Main Methods:

Assessed manipulation complexity in 36 primate species using Guttman scaling.
Categorized food-related manipulation into unimanual/bimanual and synchronous/asynchronous actions.
Correlated manipulation complexity with brain size, cognitive performance, terrestriality, and diet quality.

Main Results:

Manipulation complexity was positively correlated with brain size and cognitive test performance.
Species employing complex foraging techniques (extractive foraging, tool use) showed higher manipulation complexity.
Terrestriality positively influenced the relationship between manipulation complexity and brain size; diet quality did not.

Conclusions:

Brain size and complex food manipulation evolved in tandem among primates.
Terrestriality may have facilitated this correlated evolution.
Supports an evolutionary feedback loop between manipulation complexity and cognition, potentially enhanced by terrestrial lifestyles.